Implementing Environmental Engineering Master Degrees through Sustainable Transition and Societal Change

ongoing

The primary goal of GREENDT is to empower staff and students in Uzbekistan Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the field of Environmental Engineering (EE) by transferring knowledge from European Union (EU) HEIs. This initiative aligns with the European Commission Green Deal priority, aiming for a sustainable transition in environmental protection. The central focus is on enhancing the competencies and skills of Uzbekistan HEI students through the development of an innovative education program (Master Degree). This program aims to foster the exchange of best practices, collaboration between Uzbekistan and European HEIs in EE, and boost students' entrepreneurship, thereby improving their employability through innovation. GREENDT also intends to contribute to societal development by establishing an EE Society. This society will facilitate accessible information, laboratories, and services through a collaborative network involving municipalities, industries, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The goal is to encourage the creation of specialized companies and provide a platform for sharing knowledge and resources. Additionally, GREENDT addresses the EE Nexus to support the modernization of key environmental players, making them more competitive and innovative. This approach ensures a sustainable transition, promotes green jobs, and contributes to building a climate-neutral society with a gender-transformative perspective. The structure of GREENDT involves a multi-actor setting, incorporating pivotal levers for change: higher education institutions and governance (policy). The proposed actions under the GREENDT project include: Implementation of five EE Master Degrees; Establishment of five EE laboratories to support Master Degrees' research activities and provide services to industries and civil society; Development of an e-learning platform offering free information, online courses, and dedicated content to support Master Degrees.